Woman went to use the restroom at an airport — within seconds, she heard an unexpected remark from the cleaner that left her feeling uplifted
It takes one word, one phrase, or one encounter to change the momentum of the day in a way one could never imagine. 46-year-old Tovah Jacobson witnessed this in a restroom at an airport. Sharing the story under her Facebook handle, @Tovahtj, on October 7, 2026, the woman mentioned that she simply visited the restroom when, seconds later, she heard an unexpected message coming from outside her stall. Later reported by TODAY on October 9, 2026, it was revealed that someone special had been behind that voice, with a goal that was even more special.
The woman mentioned that her day was not so pleasant. With work stress weighing on her, she prepared for her journey from the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. She visited the restroom, and within seconds, she heard someone say, “Women, remember, you are beautiful!” As she tried to comprehend what just happened, she heard another statement: “Ladies, remember, you are powerful.” Now uplifted but confused, she was leaving the stall when she heard, “You all women can do anything!” She finally saw who was behind that voice of encouragement — the 22-year-old restroom worker and single mom, Alencia Edwards. Jacobson was hit with a wave of empowerment thanks to words from a stranger. Before she could leave, she expressed her gratitude and had a quick chat with the employee.
She learned that Edwards was a custodian who did simple jobs around the airport, including cleaning the restroom. She asked if she could take her picture and told her what a brilliant mindset she had. To the traveler, what seemed like a thankless job quickly became vibrant, thanks to the energy the worker brought to it. The single mother later revealed that she had gotten the idea from a coworker who had been doing the same. “I tell them that you know there’s no world without us women,” Edwards recalled, and it worked wonders. She mentioned how she’d notice stressed, mean-looking, overwhelmed women walk in, but after hearing her, they’d all leave with a smile on their faces. Sometimes, you just need a reminder, and this woman offered exactly that.
She had touched Jacobson’s life, and the latter wanted to return the kindness. She set up a GoFundMe to help raise money for the worker so she could go to tech school and chase her dreams. So far, $2,516 has been raised. We often know that we’re capable. However, sometimes, our worries bury the truth that we’re enough. In another story, a dad had been teaching his daughter the importance of affirmations.
He used to tell his 7-year-old powerful things to uplift and strengthen her confidence. Little did he know, she was taking in more than just the words. When he got home after a long work weekend, he found a note on his work desk. It was from his little one, sharing the same kindness she learned from her father. She wrote, “Your [sic] brave. Your [sic] kind. Your [sic] strong. You can do hard things.” It felt rewarding on a whole different level.
You can follow @Tovahtj on Facebook for more stories.